Target-trap.



No. 852,910. PATBNTED MAY 7, 1907.

HLE. 6: L. A. SHERMAN.

TARGET TRAP APPLICATION rum) n11. 1a, 1905.

2 SEEBTB-BHEBT 1.

- ATTORNEY.

PATENTED- MAY 7, 1907.

H. E. 6; L. 1A. SHERMAN:

TARGET TRAP.

APPLICATION TILED MAR.13,1905.

WITNESSEfi ATTQRNY,

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UNITED S ATES' AENT trio.

HARRY E. SHERMAN AND LOUIE A. SHERMAN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI,

ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WALTER S. DIOKEY, OF KAN- SAS cITY, MISSOURI.

TARGET-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY E. SHERMAN and LOUIE A. SHERMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Traps; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to target traps and has for its principal object to provide a mechanism wherein the throwing portion of the trap may automatically change its position in relation to its base inorder that the targets discharged therefrom may be thrown at different angles to the shooter; the throwing parts being locked to the base while the target is discharged, as will presently be described.

Other objects of our invention are to provide improved details of structure, which will presently be fully described and pointed out in the claims, reference being'had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trap constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same, the dotted lines showing the position of the throwing parts in readiness for discharge. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the locking lever in its relation to the revoluble pedestal and stationary base, portions of the latter being shown in vertical section.

Referring more in detail to the parts1 represents the trap base, within a recess in the upper surface of which. is revolubly mounted the base 2 of a pedestal 3; a stud 4,

rigidly secured in said pedestal projecting downwardly therefrom through a perforation in base 1, and carrying a nut 5 adapted to lock said pedestal to said base. firmly enough to prevent vertical movement vofthe pedestal although permitting free rotative movement thereof. At its upper end pedestal 3 is provided with a yoke 6 between the ears of which is pivoted the standard 8 of the throw'arm frame 8. By means of said pivotal connection, the front of the throw arm frame may be raised or lowered to secure the desired elevation for the target, and is held in such elevation by a sector 9 which is suitably pivoted at its upper end to frame 8 with its lower end extending through a slot 10 in the pedestal, where it is locked in a desired position by a set screw 11. On the outer end of frame 8 is a hub 12- in which is journaled a shaft 13 having rigidly secured to its upper end the throw arm 14. Below arm 14 and loosely mounted on shaft 13 is the hub 15 of a segment of a peripherally grooved pulley or sheave 15, said arm 14 and hub 15 being preferably separated by the washer 16.

. Shaft 13 projects for a short distance below frame 8 and carries a crank arm 17 which is rigidly secured thereto. Mounted on the angle 18 of arm 17 is one end of a coil spring 19 the other end of which is carried by a ring bolt 20 projecting through the standard 8.

21 is a thumb nut on bolt 20 by means of which bolt 20 is tightened to tension spring 19, and 21 is a jamb nut for retaining nut 21 in position. Crank arm 17 and throw arm 14 are extended in opposite directions from shaft 13 and as both are rigidly secured thereto, when spring'19 is under tension arm 17 will extend backwardly in line with frame 8 and the throw arm forwardly in practically the same line.

Suitably secured to one end of the segment 15 adjacent to hub 15 is the chain 22 which extends backwardly and engages a coil spring 23 suitably mounted on a portion of frame 8; said spring being normally under slight tension to maintain said segment in a desired position in relation to the extended throw arm 14.

Secured to segment 15 adjacent to chain 22 is one end of the pull chain 24, said chain entering the peripheral groove at one end of the segment and traveling therein to the oppo site end and thence back between a pair of guide sheave wheels 25 to a suitable pulling device (not shown) adjacent to the shooting stand.

When the chain 24 is drawn backwardly,

and the face of the beveled lug on segment 15 will contact with the spring pawl 14 on arm 14, carrying said arm around a ainst the tensioniof the spring 19 until it is a most in line with frame 8 (dotted line Fig. 2),. when the crank arm 17 will be on its outer center with respect to spring 19. The operator holds the arm in this position while a target is placed in the carrier 14 and until the shooter signifies his readiness for the target, when with a slight pull of chain 24 the throw arm is moved farther around and the crank 17 carried beyond its center and retracted by the contraction of spring 19, arm 14 being thereby thrown forward in its circle; the centrifugal force generated during said throw discharging the target from the carrier as the arm approaches the limit 0f its swing. After the arm has left its contact with segment 15, chain 24 is released, and the spring 23 retracts said segment to its original position, the lug 15 tripping the spring pawl 14 and gaining its position for again operating the arm.

Extending backwardly from the base of pedestal 3 is a slotted arm 8 the outer end of which is provided with a depending flange 3 adapted to travel on the track 1 of a fan shaped extension 1 of base 1. Pivoted between a pair of cars 3 on arm 8 is the locking lever 26, the rear end of which is provided with a depending tooth 26 adapted to fit within one of a series of pockets 1 in the base extension 1. To the front arm of saidlever,

is pivoted a clevis 27, said clevis in turn being. engaged by a chain 24, secured at its upper end to the pull chain 24. a"

Secured to and extending backwardly from the top of ears 3 is a finger 28 carrying at its outer end a coil spring 29, engaging at its lower end the lock arm of lever 26 and normally retaining said arm in an elevated I position with the tooth 26 above and out of engagement With the pockets 1.

While chain 24 may be directly connected from clevis 27 to, chain 24 we prefer to have it hung from a ring on frame 8, with the lever end practically taut and the part connecting said lever end and the pull chain slack, for a purpose presently set forth.

In order to impart a resiliency to chain 24 we connect two non adjacent links in the slack portion of the chain with a coil spring 30, so that as said chain is straightened the pull on the lever portion will be to a certain extent yielding.

On the rear of the base portion 1" is a cir- I cular rail 31 against which the lugs 3 abut to impart further rigidity to the trap.

In the operation of our trap, the parts are assembled as described and the base portion suitably anchored. At a convenient distance to the rear of the trap a pulling device is set up and the pull chain 24 connected therewith. When it is desired to throw a target from the trap the pull chain is drawn backward revolving the segment 15 as described, the lug on said segment engaging the pawl on and revolving the throw arm; said throw arm and the crank arm 17 both being rigid on the shaft 13, as the former is revolved the crank arm is also carried around tensioning spring 19. The crank and throw arms are so adjusted on shaft 13 that as the latter is almost in line with the frame 8, the former will be on its center with respect to spring 19. The throw arm is held in this position while a target is placed in the carrier and until a signal is given by the shooter, when the chain 24 is drawn still further back and the crank arm carried beyond its center, when the contraction of spring 19 carries the crank arm quickly through the remainder of its circuit, swinging the throw arm around to its discharge position, the centrifugal force generated during the swing of. the throw arm discharging the target from its carrier when the arm has reached the end of its swing. As the pull chain 24 is given its discharging pull the lever chain 24 is raised sufhciently to rock lever 26 and throw the tooth 26" downwardly into one of the pockets 1 of'base 1, locking the pedestal to the base and holding same rigid while the target is discharged. Spring 30 is stiffer than spring 29 so that as chain 24 is operated the lever 2-6 may be ocked without extending spring 30, but should chain 24 be drawn farther than is necessary, spring 30 will be extended to relieve the lever 26 from unnecessary strain.

As soon as the target has been discharged the pull chain is released and the spring 23 retracts the segment to its original position for again operating the throw arm. When the chain 24 is relaxed the spring 29 rocks the lever 26, lifting the tooth 26 out of its pocket in the base portion, and the vibration of the throw arm swingsthe revoluble pedestal on base 1 to a different angle on the base so that in the next operation of the trap, the lever tooth engages a different pocket and the succeeding target is discharged at a different angle from the shooter.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. In a target trap, an imperforate base, a revoluble carrying means on said base, a

throw arm carried by said means, means for tomatically rocking said lever into contact with said base.

3. In a target trap, a suitable base, a carrying means on said base and a throw arm carried thereby, a lever pivoted on said oarrying means, a spring on the free end of said lever yieldingly retaining same out of contact with said base, and means for automatically rocking said lever upon the discharge of said throw arm.

4. A target trap com rising a throw arm frame revolublymounte on a suitable base, a throw arm carried by said frame, a pull chain adapted for operating said arm, a lever pivoted in an arm of said frame, and alever chain hung on said frame and connected with said pull chain, and lever substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A target trap comprising a throw arm frame revolubly mounted 011 a suitable base, a throw arm carried by said frame a pull chain adapted for operating said arm, a lever pivoted in an arm on said frame, a lever chain connecting said lever and pull chain and a spring connecting two non adjacent links in said lever chain, substantially as set forth.

6. A target trap comprising a throw arm frame revolubly mounted on a suitable base, a throw arm carried by said frame a pull chain adapted for operating said arm, a lever pivoted in an arm on said frame, a lever chain hung on said frame and connected with said pull chain and lever, and a spring 30 connecting two non adjacent links in said chain, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY E. SHERMAN. LOUIE A. SHERMAN.

Witnesses:

HUGH B. HULL, A. M. MAXWELL. 

